Angel Canino and the La Salle Lady Spikers during a game against NU Lady Bulldogs within the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Perfect within the elimination round and ideal in winning Game 1.
With that, La Salle is eyeing nothing but staying the identical because the Lady Spikers attempt to wrap up the Season 88 UAAP women’s volleyball Finals against back-to-the-wall National University on Saturday on the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
A thirteenth title in a spotless 16-0 campaign is within sight and the Lady Spikers won’t let their guard down against a bounce-back-seeking Lady Bulldogs of their 5 p.m. duel as NU tries to maintain a “three-peat” bid alive.
Angel Canino, whose generational Rookie-MVP season three years ago was also the last time La Salle won a title, is set to complete the season with a championship and add to the Lady Spikers’ wealthy winning tradition.
“I really need to finish this in a superb way, something we might be happy with,” said Canino in Filipino after delivering 17 points in a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 Game 1 ripping of the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday. She wants nothing but to finish a two-year wait for one more championship, especially after being swept by National U last season when Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomona still bannered the Bulldogs.
“Now, I’m attempting to be more patient with myself and with my teammates,” Canino said. “I believe that’s what is going to carry us to a championship, not only skills, but how we stock ourselves and handle the whole lot so we will finish the season the fitting way.”
La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus reminds his wards, also bannered by Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, Shane Reterta and rookie setter Eshana Laput, to not be complacent, with the Lady Bulldogs trying to force a rubber match—which could be the primary within the tournament since 2019 when Ateneo beat UST for the Season 81 crown.
“We’ll just persist with our preparation. NU doesn’t really change how they play, win or lose—they’re consistent,” De Jesus said as he tries to finish the season of former player and now NU counterpart Regine Diego. “Their setter may be very experienced, their spikers are solid and even their second stringers are strong.
“NU played very well, but our players just wanted it more,” said De Jesus, who eyes his second tournament sweep since 2004’s 14-0 run.
True enough, Diego won’t back down, as she and the Lady Bulldogs remain optimistic despite getting swept in Game 1.
“I knew they weren’t going to present it to us easily, which is why it was such a tricky game,” Diego said. “But obviously, we’ll bounce back in the following one.”
Vange Alinsug, who had 12 points in Game 1, is desirous to keep their “three-peat” bid alive.
“Straight away, I’m just attempting to lift up my teammates because I can see that all of us want this badly,” said Alinsug. “We just have to play with much more heart. It’s not over yet. We still have work to do.
“We’d like to present much more, especially now that La Salle’s confidence is basically high,” she added. “We’ve to shine the things we want to enhance on. We really want to remain consistent, especially within the stretch.”
National U will proceed to show to Arah Panique, who led the team with 18 points and fifth-year setter Lams Lamina. Top rookie Sam Cantada, who struggled in her Finals debut with two points on a 1-of-18 attacking clip, vowed to indicate up.nu